Pirates seek more host families
Courtesy photo<br> The host family for the Moses Lake Pirates' Brock Gates (bottom row far left) take time to cement a memory of their time with the new member of the family. Rick (top row, fourth from the left) and Amy (bottom row, second from the left) Raymond's family took part in the Pirates' Host Family program last season.
MOSES LAKE — On the verge of their fifth season in the West Coast League, the Moses Lake Pirates’ baseball team may have an almost complete roster but only half of their family is still to be decided.
That’s because the Pirates organization is still in need of 15 host families for the 2010 season as part of their Host Family program.
“The Pirates program has seen incredible growth creating the need for additional host families,” Pirates’ owner Brent Kirwan said. “To stay competitive, we’ve had to recruit more players from outside the Northwest who all need a place to stay.”
According to Kirwan the Pirates have also become an ideal place for colleges to sent their sports program interns to finish their hours and get their degree.
“This growth speaks volumes about our communities dedication to the Pirates program,” Kirwan said.
So while these players and interns are in town to play ball for the Pirates they are in need of a local host to allow them to have a residence they can call their own.
Pirate Host families receive season tickets for their family, discounts on Pirate apparel, we have special events for our host families and honor our host families at a game at the end of the season.
Moses Lake is the smallest community to have a team in the league, according to Kirwan, but has the strongest host family program.
“Our Host Families are very important,” Kirwan said. “Even after the season is over, the host families stay in contact with their adopted Pirate.”
The players start arriving in Moses Lake at the beginning of June and if they are flying in they will be picked up by the team and will meet up with their host family, with whom they would stay with until the second week of August.
“Hosting a Pirate is easy,” Kirwan said. “They just need a bed to sleep in, a place to do laundry, and an occasional meal is always appreciated. Our host families range from the traditional family, to retired people, even single parent homes and individuals can host. You set your own house rules.”
The host family is not responsible to provide transportation. Most of the players drive their own cars to Moses Lake and if they have flown in, a teammate is responsible to get them to the ballfield.
“The players are very serious about baseball and come out to be scouted,” Kirwan said. “
Our players are in a college program and must keep up their NCAA eligibility and many of the league’s players have gone on to careers in professional baseball.”
For more information or for those interested in being a host family contact Kirwan at 750-1000 or Host Family Coordinator Amy Raymond at 989-2441.
They can also be contacted via email at info@mlpirates.com.